Method and apparatus for preheating liquid fuels and maintaining alpha combustible mixture after initial vaporization



Sept. 27, 1932. c. LAMBERT 1,879,938

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREHEATING LIQUID FUELS AND MAINTAINING A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE AFTER INITIAL VAPORIZATION Filed Sept. 30, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

CHAzAEs F (Aw/352T By {fl wu A TORNEY.

8 2 .P 3 R E 9 t m5 G e V 9 N e B 71 h VA 8m NZ A S I lTNt F Noe I I e. 8

ATh E MAS nus m C. F. LAMBERT FREHEATING LIQUID FUE A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE AFTER INITIAL VAPOR Filed Sept. 30, 1927 Sept. 27, 1932.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR Sept. 27, 1932. c LAMBERT I 1,879,938

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREHEATING LIQUID FUELS AND MAINTAINING A CQMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE AFTER INITIAL VAPORIZATION Filed Sept. 30, 1927 3 SheetsSheet 5 as. is 1' l a 4 INVENTOR.

- ChAezss FAA/vase A TTORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 27, 1932 NITED STATE,

v ass F. LAMBERT, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTfi TOCLAYTON & LAMBERT MANUFACTURING 0., OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A COBPQ- Barron or DELAWARE IIIETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREHEATING- LIQUID FUELSjAND MAINTAINING A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE AFTER INITIAL VAPORIZATION Application filed September 30, 1827. Serial No. 223,170.

This invention relates to method and appa ratus for preheating liquid fuels and maintaining a Combustible mixture after initial vaporization. It has to do particularly with the preheating and vaporization of liquid fuels used in connection with firepots, although it will be understood that this novel method and apparatus is equally well adaptable to stoves and other similar structures utilizing liquid fuel.

Heretofore in the design of firepots utilizing liquid fuel, the obtaining and maintaining of an intense heat has been the primary object. Firepots of the prior art, in obtainin this intensity of heat, have sacrificed the abil ity to graduate the flame after the intense heat has been obtained. Not only have firepots of similar structures required a long time in initial preheating and vaporizing of fuel (the usual time being from eight to ten minutes), but they have presented the additional difficulty in that after the pot of metal or soldering irons have been quickly heated,

it has been almost impossible to graduate or lower the flame in order to maintain the necessary heat Without burning the metal or the solderingirons. q

The present invention contemplates the provision of an entirely novel method and apparatus for initially preheating liquid fuel andthen maintaining the proper fixed quality of combustible mixture and conducting the same to the burner. or burners. More particularly this invention contemplates the provision of an exceedingly compact and simple carbureting member and mixing chamber which is adapted to be moved to two positions relative to the generating tube, in one posi tion being adapted to receive the fuel from the generator tube and redirect the ignited fuel back against the generator tube, and in another position to receive the vaporized fuel and properly mix and direct the same in .its path towards the burner or burners. As a result of this structure the generating tube in its two operating positions may be maintained stationary and the combined preheating and mixing device moved relative to said stationary generator to efiect, first, the preheating of the generator tube and, second, the

proper mixture ofv the vaporized fuel.

Another feature of the present invention has to do with the provision of a novel preheating and mixing device, a portion of which is movable to effect preheating and subse quent mixing, and another portion of which is stationary and so designed as to conduct the vaporlzed mixture upwardly'before con 1 ducting the same to the burner or burners.

By so conducting the vaporized mixture'up wardly the present device eliminates any possibility of raw fuel being conducted to the burner or burners. In other words, it prevents any flooding of the manifold or burners, such as has been quite customary in similar devices of the prior art.

Still another object of the present invention has to do with the novel arrangement of the generator tube, the preheating and mixing device, the auxiliary burner for directing the vaporizing flames against the generator tube and the position of the main burner relative to such auxiliary burner. This novel arrangement not only insures a compactstructure but 7 one that is very efiicient, and .the

relative position of the auxiliary and the main burner is such that under most normal conditions at least one of such burners Wlll remaln lgnited and thus serve as an igniting means for one or the other of such burners.

A still further'object of the present invention has to do with the combination of a novel generating tube with the novel preheating and mixing apparatus, such tube being so designed as to effect quick and positive vaporization of the fuel, to receive just enough liquid fuel in initial operation to effect preheating of the same and to positively expel all the fuel Within thetube after the valve is closed. The latter operation is very important in that by expelling all of the fuel the carbonizing of the jet block and parts of the tube is substantially prevented.

In the drawings: 7 U i Fig. l is a front elevation of afirepot embodying the features of my invention and illustrating in particular, the position of the generating tube with respect to the control valve.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, and showing the arrangement between the generating tube, the preheating and mixing device, the auxiliary burner and the main burner.

Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary sectional view showing the preferred arrangement of the manifold burner and deflecting plate for deflecting the flames, the burner and top plate being combined as a single article.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detailed view of the preheating and mixing device, showing the movable part of such device in its upper position whereby it serves as a pregenerator tube.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the movable part of the preheating and mixing device in its, lowermost position whereby to receive and direct the vaporized fuel from the generating tube towards the burner. V

Fig. 6 is a detail view taken on line 66 of Fig. 5 and showing thepreheating device in its uppermost operative position and also showing the manner of positioning, the auxiliary'burner relative to the generator tube.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the generating tube and control Valve therefor and the position of the mixing chamber relative to the tube when in normal operation.

- Fig. 8 is a modified form of burner and top plate structure wherein the vaporized fuel is again heated before passing into the burn er structure proper.

Fig. 9 isv a fragmentary detail view of the preheating device in downward locked position.

In illustrating the present invention it has been shown in connection with a firepot of somewhat standard design, but it will be understood that this generating apparatus may be utilized in connection with any suitable stove structure or any other structure of similar nature requiring burner elements and means for vaporizing the fuel.

The fuel reservoir or tank of the particular fire pot illustrated may be designated 1, and is provided with a suitable pump 2 for placing the fuel under pressure, and a suitable conduit 3 is utilized for conducting the fuel from the reservoir towards the generator tube and burner. I I I This generator tube may be generally desig; nated 4 and consists of a tube of a relatively large capacity compared to standard generator tubes and is preferably enlarged. at one end, nearest to the preheating and mixing chamber. The small end of the tube 4 is connected to the'conduit 3 by means of a suitable valve housing 5. The valve stem maybe designated 6 and is provided with a suitable seat, as at 7, whereby to completely shut off i the fuel supply at the entrance of the tube 4. Suitable wires 8 and 9, serving as capillary wires, for effecting a positive feeding of the liquid, are positioned in the tube 4 around the stem 5, the smaller wire 8 extending the length of the stem 6 while the larger wire 9 extending only the length of the larger porv at one side of and underneath the burner 11. heating means for vaporlzlng the fuel in they he tube 4 and the reservoir 1 of the present embodiment areshown as being stationary and thejet block 10 of the-tube is preferably positioned in a suitable boss 12 forming a part of a preheating and mixing device which may be generally designated 13.

This mixing device comprises a stationary element 14 which comprises mainly a cylindrical sleeve extending vertically downward, said sleeve bein slotted as at 15. Adapted to slide in this cylindrical portion 14 is a combined preheating and mixing element 16. This slidable element 16 is provided with a drip pan 17 which extends through theslot 1.5 in vertical alignment with the tube 4. This drip pan 17 is of novel formation in that at its forward end it is provided with a tapered or recessed portion 18 which when the device is in its upper position, as shown in Fig. 4, serves as a deflecting means for flames issuing from the jetblock. The top portion of the member 16 is hollow and is pro vided with an aperture 19 adapted to register with the jet block when the member 16 is in. its down position, as shown in Fig. 5. Diametrically disposed opposite the aperture 19 is a second aperture 20 which is provided with a tapered portion 21 which is positioned a predetermined distance from the aperture 19 whereby when the member 16 is in its down position, as shown in Fig. 5, the proper mixing of the vaporized fuel and air takes place,

This manifold 22. is preferably provided with an upward extension, as at 23, whereby it will only conduct vaporized fuel towards the burner, any liquid fuelbeing directed back to the preheating and mixing chamber and discharged out through the cylindrical portion 14 whereby no damage can be done. The manifold or conduit 22, after extending upwardly, as at- 23, may be then directed downwardly and horizontallytoward the burner or burners, as at 24 (Fig. 2). Towards the end of'the portion 24 of the manifold is provided an auxiliary burner which is formed be seen that vaporized fuel passing through with a suitable screen or perforate member 26 V t1nuous vaporization of the liquid fuel.

The main portion of the manifold 24 is directed towards the combined burner and top plate which may be generallv designated 30. This member is called a combined burner and top plate because it is not only designed to so support such soldering irons that the iii to serve as a combined burner and top plate, but because it also deflects the flames and directs the heating of the various members without burning out the top plate, as is fre quently the case in the prior art. This novel burner is annular in construction with an annular opening 31 for conducting the vaporized fuel from the manifold 24. The inner portion of this annular chamber 31 is provided with a circular perforate-screen 32 which serves to direct the flames-inwardly and annularly towards a common center. Suitable stepped supporting members 33 form a part of the burner head 30 and are of such a as to last indefinitely or at least during the life of the firepot or burner. These stepped members 33 are so designed and positioned as to receive standard metal melting pots 3 1, or in case the soldering irons are to be heated,

tips or tinned parts are positioned over the top of the annular channel 31 while the bases or heels of the soldering irons are positioned above the flames which emanate from the perforate screen 32. A suitable shield 35 may be positioned on top of the combined burner and top plate 30, as shown in Fig. 3, whereby to confine the flames as desired- This shield may be of various forms and where it is desired to heat a metal pot and soldering irons at the same time it may be so designed as to support the pot 34 at a higher plane to permit the inserting of the irons. To insure positive operation of the combined preheating and mixing member 13,.such device is'provided with a suitable pivoted member 36, as shown in Fig. 6, which is pivoted to the top portion of the slid-able portion 16 of the preheating and mixing device. The permanent lower portion 14 of this de vice is provided with a suitable lug 37 directly below the pivoted point of the member 36. It will thus be seen that when the slidable portion 16 is raisedthat the pivoted mem ber 36 will automatically hang perpendicu larly and thus com incontact with the lug 3'? to properly position the drip pan 17 adjacent the lower portion of the generator tube 4. When the member 36 is snapped or pulled away with the finger, the slidable portion 16 design and so secured to the burner member will drop of its own weight and suitable shoulders 38 willilimit the downward movement of such element so as to properly align theaperture 19 with the j et block 10.

In operation, the fuel in tank 1 having been placed'under'suitable pressure, the valve may be operated to open the valve seat 7 and admit the liquid fuel into the tube 4: and into the drip pan 1'7, such drip pan being in its upper most position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

When a small amount of fuel hasv accumu lated in such drip pan 17 thevalve may beclosed and the fuel ignited whereby to initially heat the tube 4: with an open flame. Al-

most immediately pressure will be created in the tube whereby a portion of the fuel will be vaporized and will be forced from the tube through the jet block and againstthe tapered portion 18. Thus vaporized fuel will be ignited and, hitting the portion 18, will be redirected back against the gen'erator-tubein the form of a blast. This blast will gradually increase as the tube becomes hotter, whereby from one minute to one and a half minutes the fuel in the generator tube will be so vaporized that'the preheating member 16 may bedropped whereby to conduct the vaporized fuel. from burner. a I

By snapping the member 36 the. drip pan and entire member 16 will be brought into position shown in Fig. 5', whereby the vaporized fuel fromthe tube 4; will be directed towards the manifold 22. Air will be drawn through the portion 14c and will mix with the vaporized fuel to the proper extent to form a combustible mixture. This combustible mixture emanating through the auxiliary burner drip cup 17 or in case allthe fuel in the cup 17 has burned out, by any exterior flame. The igniting of the fuel emanating from the burner 25 will also serve to ignite the vaporized mixture as it issues from the annular burner 31 through the screen "32, a's willfbe obvious from Fig. 2. Initial ignition of the fuel issuing from the burner .31 may, how-' ever, be obtained by any suitable means.

The flames issuing-from the auxiliary burner 25 will so heat the generator tube that the valve may be opened to anyextent desired, whereby to immediately cause an intense blast of flame from the main burner or to gradualthe tube 4 towards the ly increase the. flame from the-main burner. I

It may be desired in initially starting up the 1 .device to assist'the blast in preheating the tube 1 and this may be obtained by slightly opening the valve, whereby to gradually increase the blast and thus force the heating of the generator tube. After the device is once in operation and the member 16 is dropped to its down position, it will be. seen that the vaporized fuelwill be directed into the manifold 22 and combined with the proper amount of air according to the spacing of the aperture 21 from the aperture 19. Due

to the fact that the manifold 21 is provided with an upward turn 23, any raw fuel either from improper manipulation of the device or from any otherreason will be conducted back into the chamber 14 and will be allowed to drip out awayfrom the burner so as to positively prevent any damage by flooding of the manifold.

. As shown in Fig. 3, I have provided a suitable deflector plate 40 positioned centrally of the annular-burner 81 whereby to deflect the flames centrally and upwardly. In Fig.8 I have shown a modified form of this deflector in that it consistsof a hollow deflector 41 adapted to receive the fuel from the manifold 24. I In this construction the vaporized. fuel is directed to the hollow deflector 41 and is then conducted to an annular burner member 42 similar to the burner member 31. In this case the flames issuing from the perforate portion 43 will be directed against the top part of the deflector 41 to, heat the fuel already vaporized by the tube 4. This additional vaporization just prior to the issuance of the fuel from the burner serves to greatly in-. crease the carburetion of the fuel. It will be obvious that this deflector member 14 may take various forms and that the initial vaporized fuel may be conducted thereto in any of several different manners. However, the point is that the vaporized fuel passing through the manifold 24 is again subjected to vaporizing flames before final issuance from the burner or burners.

In Fig. 9 I have shown the member 16 locked in its down position by swinging the upper part of the member 36 over the lug 37. However, it will be understood that any suitable means may be used for normally locking the preheater member 16 in its down position.

lVhat I claim is:

1. The method of starting, vaporizing and maintaining vaporization of liquid fuel which comprises passing: the liquid fuel in a helical column of relatively large diameter,

feeding the column of fuel-by capillary'attraction, initiallyapplying a relatively small amount of heat directly underneath the columnof liquid fuel to cause part of the fuel to issue as vaporized fuel, deflecting said fuel from its normal path and igniting the vaporized fueland directing the flames therefrom 5 back directly against the column of liquid fuel, continuing to direct the flames against the column of liquid fuel whereby to accelerate vaporization thereof, then permitting the free exit of vaporized fuel and mixing the same withair to form a combustible mixture and then conducting the combustible mixture upwardly whereby only the completely vaporized fuel will be conducted to the burner. 2. A generating device for liquid fuel burners, comprising a stationary burner memating tube, and an integral unit consisting of a mixing chamber and preheating device slidable relative to said generating tube, said slidable device in one positiondirecting the flames from the generating tube backwa'rdlyin the form of a blastlagainst the tube to assist in preheating, and in another position correctly mixing the vaporized fuel with air to form acombustible mixture.

4. A starting and generating device: for. liquid fuel burners, comprising a liquid fuel vaporizer, having a valve at its inlet end, a manifold for conducting the vaporized fuel from said vaporizer, a vertically reciprocable mixing chamber positionedbetweenthe vaporizer and the inlet of the manifold, and a flame deflecting means. secured to the mixing chamber .and so secured that when'said mixing chamber is in its upper position the flames from the vaporizer will be redirected against the vaporizing element.

5. A generating device for liquid fuel burners, comprising a liquidfuel vaporizer,

vice for liquid fuel burners, comprising a va-- porizer, a mixing chamber having inlet and outlet apertures in predetermined spaced alignment for securing a correct mixture of the vaporized fuel, means for effecting relative movement between the vaporizer and the mixing chamber, and a fuel pan and flame deflecting element secured to the mixing chamber and movable upon relative movement between the vaporizer and mixing chamber to a'position relative to the vaporizer.

7.'A generating device for liquid fuel burners, comprising a generator tube, a manifold housing positioned adjacent the genera-tor head, a vertically reciprocablemixing chamber and preheating member slidable within the manifold housing, a manifold conduit leading upwardly from the manifold housing, an annular stationary burner connected to said conduit and positioned above the vaporizer, and an auxiliaryburner positioned in the manifold conduit between said upwardlyd-irected portion and the main burner for maintaining vaporization of the liquid fuel in the vaporizer.

8. A combined preheating and mixing chamber for liquid fuel burners, comprising a cylindrical housing having an inlet for a generating tube, and an outlet positioned diametrically therefrom for the combustiblev to said mixin chamber and ada ated to contact with the housing in one position in such manner as to position the fuel pan and flame deflecting device adjacent the tube and adapted to be readily snapped from position to allow themixing chamber to drop to another position in such manner as to mix vaporized fuel and direct the same toward the burner manifold.

10. A generating device for liquid fuel burners, comprising a generator tube of relatively large capacity, means within the tube for constricting but positively conducting liq uid fuel, a valve at the inlet end of said generator tube for controlling the fuel fed into said tube, a stationary manifold housing provided with an inlet for receiving the outlet end of said tube, a combined mixing chamber and flame deflecting means movable relative to the end of said generating tube, means for positioning said mixing chamber and flame deflecting means in either of two positions, and a manifold for conducting the vaporized fuel upwardly towards amain burner, and means for separately deflecting a portion of said vaporized fuel and flames therefrom against said tube to maintain vaporization of the contents thereof, said valve being adjustable to accurately control the flow of fuel whereby to obtain any graduation of flames from the main burner as desired.

11. A generating device for liquid fuel burners for fire pots and the like, comprising a stationary generating tube of the capillary type provided with a control valve at the inlet end thereof, a combined mixing chamber and preheating member movable relative to the end of the generator tube for effecting preheating of the generator tube or mixing of the vaporized fuel, an upwardly directed manifold for conducting the combustible mixture towards a main burner, and

a generating an auxiliary burner for maintaining vapor IZZItlOIl of the fuel 1n said generator tube, said auxiliary burner being positioned closely adjac'ent to said main burner whereby the flames therefromserve aspilot flames for igniting said main burner, v V V 12. A generating device for liquid fuel burners for fire pots and the like, comprising a stationary generating tube of the capillary type provided with a control valve at the inlet end thereof, a combined mixing chamber and preheating member movable relative to the end of the generator tube for eflecting preheating of the generator tube and mixing of the vaporized fuel, an upwardly directed manifold for conducting the combustible mixture towards a main burner, and an auxiliary burner directed against the same portion of the tube as heated by the preheating member for maintaining vaporization of the fuel in said generator tube positioned closely adjacent to said main burner, said main burner being of annular formation, the flames therefrom being directed inwardly and annularly.

l8. A generating device for liquid fuel burners for fire pots and the like, comprising a generating tube, a control valve at the en'- trance end of said tube, a manifold for con ducting the vaporized fuel from said tube towards the main burner, an auxiliary burner positioned adjacent said burner for directing flames against said generator tube to maintain vaporization whereby'the supply of vaporized fuel from the main burner may be accurately controlled froma smallto an intense flame, said main burner consisting of an annular burner forming a. combined burner and top plate, the burner portion being positioned on the inner surface of the annular burner whereby todirect the flames inwardly and radially toward a common center. r

14. A generating device for liquid fuel burners for flrepots and the like, comprising a generating tube, a control valve at the en trance end of said tube, a manifold for con ducting the vaporized fuel from said tube towards the main burner, an auxiliary burner positioned adjacent said main burner for directing flames against said generator tube to maintain vaporization whereby the supply of vaporized fuel from the main burner may be accurately controlled from a small to an intense flame, said main burner consisting of an annular burner forming a combined burner and top plate, the burner portion being positioned on the inner surface of the annular burner whereby to direct the flames inwardly and radially toward a common center, and means for deflecting said flames centrally and upwardly above the top plate of the burner.

15. A generating device for liquid fuel burners, comprising a permanently positioned generator tube, a manifold for conducting the fuel from the generator tube towards a burner or burners, and a unitary mixing chamber and flame directing element V positioned between said generator tub'e'and the inlet of the manifold, said unitary member being movable vertically to one position to deflect-the flames from the generator tube back against the tube, and to another position to receive and direct the fuel from the generating tube towards the manifold.

16. Firepot structure of the liquid fueltype, comprising in combination a stationary burner member, a stationary one piece generating tube, a manifold spaced from the end 7 of the generating tube for conducting generated fuel vapor into the burner, a mixing chamber between the end of said tube and the inlet of said manifold said generator tube comprising a restricted portion and an enlarged portion, and anauxiliary burner leading from said manifold and positioned adjacent the enlarged portion of said generating tube for directing flames against the enlarged portion of the tube only.

1'7. Fire pot structure of the liquid fuel type, comprising in combination a stationary main burner member, a stationary one piece generating tube terminating in a IIllXlIlg chamber, a manifold spaced fronrthe end of the generating tube for conducting the mixed fuel vapor towards the burner, sald generator tube conslsting of a relatively large tube, a combined drip pan and flame deflector movable into position adjacent the end of '7 said tube to receive a body of liquid fuel and shaped to deflect the fuel vapor initially issuing'there'from in the form of a blast of flame backwardly against the generator tube and over the surface of said body of-liquid, and an auxiliary burner leading from said manifold and positioned alongside the generator tube for directing flames thereagainst after vaporization has once been started by said blast deflector.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES F. LAMBERT. 

